Sheet pulp containing forming apparatus



Degas, 1943.

L. M. WILEY SHEET PULP CONTAINING FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4, 1939 8Sheets-Sheet 3 PI 'r x INVENTOR. 155 N H Mt).

Dec.28,1'943. L. M. WILEY r 2,337,581

SHEET PULP cormmmc FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4. 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 5z5 1NVENTOR.

155M l V/zz'r Dec. 28, 1943. M. WILEY 2,337,581

SHEET PULP CONTAINING FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4. 1939 8Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

456 M. W/L 2.

"Dec. 28, 1943. L. M. WILEY 2,337,581

SHEET PULP CONTAINING FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 4. 1939 8Sheets-Sheet 8 and as the sheet comes oil or 1 into sheets.

Patented Dec. 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET PULP CONTAININGFORMING APPARATUS Application August 4, 1939, Serial No. 288,343

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for fabricating a relatively deepseamless container, or the like, from prime sheet pulp. The articlescomparable thereto are such as core plugs for wrapping paper rolls,flower pots, food containers, drinking cups, and other objects suitablefor industrial and commercial uses.

Heretofore the industry has formed by other methods from pulp materialcontainers and the like at the container mill located near the source ofusein other words, at the centers of population. The pulp supplied tosuch mills has required shipment of the pulp material to the mill intank cars since it contains more than 90% Water. The result'is the costof the pulp materlal at the container mill is greatly increased byreason of the transportation charges between the pulp factory and thecontainer mill and more especially upon the water content of the pulpmaterial.

One solution to this problem is to locate the container manufacturingplant immediately adpulp mill and to the source or use or purchaser areexceedingly excessive.

The presentinvention, therefore-is directed to a solution which hasneither of these objections of the last mentioned problem nor theobjection of the first mentioned problem. This invention primarily isdirected to the formation of useful articles adjacent the source ofconsumption and from prime sheet pulp which may be readily fabricated bythe pulp mill into rolls and which can be readily shipped from the pulpfactory to the container factory.

In the production of prime pulp, the fibers the like are supplied to thescreen and this pulp is then sheeted to a re sonable dryness the screenand drier, it is formed into rolls or may be formed Herein thinventionis illustrated as utilizing thi pulp sheet form but arranged in rollformation. Thus thepulp material may be continuously manufactured by thepulp factory, made up into rolls of prime sheet pulp material andreadily stored or shipped as and when required. This sheet pulpmaterial, therefore, contains but little moisture so that thetransportation charges on the primary material are relatively smallcompared to the transportation charges on an equivalent amount of liquidpulp material.

Also this material may be stored either at the pulp mill or thecontainer factory for a relatively nominal expense and thus thecontainer manufacturer can during the maximum pulp production seasonpurchase the prime sheet material more economically in the event thecommercial demand for containers and the like does not coinside with theseasonal production of the pulp material.

All of the foregoing, therefore, constitutes advantages which areavailable to the container manufacturer provided the prime pulp materialcan be fashioned into containers which heretofore has been impossiblebut which by means of the present invention is accomplished, although itis to be observed that this intermediate production of the prime sheetpulp does of necessity require a fuel cost for sheet drying purposesafter the major portion of the water has drained from the pulp fibre inthe formation of the sheet material on the paper screen and drier rollsin the pulp plant.

More economical advantages will be noted by operating such a unit hereindescribed as vertical integration in the pulp mill. In this manner ofoperation along with the fact that all solutions such as for sizing, forwater repellency, acid repellency, heat resisting and colors being addedto the fibres in the pulp heaters the pulp sheet can be handled directlyfrom the mill driers in a more moistened state, which is a saving ondrying energy in the mill and all web waste from this unit can bereturned immediately to the beaters and again formed into the pulp sheetthereby eliminating all web waste. method of operation will alsoeliminate freight charges on the pulp sheets and all solutions in tankson the form moulding equipment.

As previously mentioned, this invention is directed to the utilizationof this type of sheet material for the formation of relatively deepseamless products and which products when formed have a finishedappearance substantially free from wrinkles and the like, and which maybe made to substantially any desired shape and dimension and held tothat dimension and which when: made will retain that dimension and shapeand which may be suitably treated for the specific industrial purposesto which the container is directed.

Briefly, the process contemplates first the proper preliminary treatmentof the sheet pulp as it is derived from the Jumbo roll and in successivestages, which treatment essentially consists of immersing the sheet in areservoir or tank which due to the absorbent character of the sheetreadily picks up the impregnating liquid and after it has been passedthrough this liquid, the sheet is passed through a wringer structure sothat excess liquid material is removed from the sheet. Any desirednumber of immersions may be employed and these may be of like characteror of dissimilar character.

Solutions can be put in the beater at the pulp mill before sheet of pulpis formed on the wire as explained on page 1 for vertical integration.

The various liquids, in solution, may be for the purpose of addingstrength and rigidity to the final product, making the product heatresisting, acid resisting, water repellent and/or for coloring same. Thesheet material is positively passed through the several reservoirs andthen is supplied to the initial forming device which has a certain timesequence arrangement of its various parts so that while the sheetpreviously has been continuously fed, the sheet now is intermittentlyfed, as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

Interposed between the intermittent feeding thereof and the continuousfeeding thereof, the sheet is looped or forms a festoon so that theintermittent feeding of the sheet is not carried ,back into thecontinuously fed portion of the sheet, thereby insuring properimpregnation by the respective impregnating liquids. As stated, theworking portion of the sheet is intermittently fed and in a verticaldirection operable so that the impregnating material thereon does notaccumulate in the initial forming machine, and which vertical directionof feeding the sheet material does eliminate all tendencies of frictionbetween the surface of the sheet and the machine parts thereby allowingfor a lower minimum of web loss as the sheet travels by gravity throughthe die area and no pull is exerted on the narrow web sections, whichpermits these web sections to be made more narrow.

The sheet is presented to a blanking structure and from the same thedesired size of blank is cut from the sheet. Previously these blankproviding areas are so positioned in the sheet that when removedtherefrom. there will be a minimum wastage of stock. The resulting webfollowing the blank formation then may be suitably handled by cuttinginto small pieces and collecting the same as a waste which may be sold.

The apparatus hereinafter to be described is arranged so that itsimultaneously forms a plurality of blanks and the blank formation is ofstaggered character at each blanking operation for speed and economy.

Upon the formation of the blanks, each is initially deformed into acontainer like shape simi lar to the final shape desired. In thisshaping operation, however, there is initially formed in theouterportions of the blank, reference being had to its fiat form, inwardlyand outwardly directed corrugations, or the like. These corrugatedwalled articles then are brought together and arranged in transversealignment and are handled in a single row transverse alignmentthereafter. Accordingly, while two rows of blanks are initially formedin one blanking operation, the

subsequent operations, except initial formation, are directed solely toa single transverse row of structures and, therefore, reference will behad hereinafter to but a single article.

In the initial forming of the outer portions of the blank, referred toabove as inwardly and outwardly directed corrugations, or the like,which are set up or formed in the outer portions of the blank by aspecific mechanical arrangement of thin fins in the blanking punch whichare in alignment with and enter grooves in the drawing die ofequidistant spacing. These fins are constructed with sufficient depth orheight as to allow for the accumulation of the surplus stock in theouter portions of the blank as it is drawn toward and into the centeropening of the drawing die. In actual practice the edges of the fins inthe blanking die exert a pressure on the blank forcing it into thegrooves of the forming die, causing inverted creases, flutes,corrugations, or the like, to be formed in the blank equally spacedaround the outward portion of the blank. After the initial formation ofthese creases, flutes, corrugations, or the like between the edges ofthe fins on the blanking die and the grooves in the drawing die, theblanking die is withdrawn, retarded or receded slightly, to relieve thepressure exerted by the fins on the blank so that the friction on thesurface of the blank is reduced to a minimum as the blank is drawnthrough the opening in the center of the drawing die and changes itsshape from a flat to a corrugated walled article.

After initial blank formation and subsequent initial container likeformation, including a preformed corrugated wall formation, thecorrugated wall product and top edge is subjected to a forming processwhich reduces the corrugations to a substantially continuous solid massof annular or peripheral outline in cross section and primarily toultimate size. Thereafter the resulting article is expanded to almostthe final size. It is then subjected to a drying operation whichevaporates the external moisture and sets the various impregnatingliquids included in the article so that the article then is insemi-finished form. It is then subjected to an expansion operation andupsetting operation on the top edge wherein it assumes substantially itsfinal form and then it is finally finished and subjected to a finaldrying operation. 7

It is to be understood, however, that the process hereinbefore thusbriefly described, is a continuous one, although of intermittentcharacter. For example, the blanking and corrugating formation of asecond article takes place simultaneously with the initial preliminaryformation of a similar previous article and this takes placesimultaneously with the third forming operation previously mentioned.

The sheet is fed to the blanking dies during the interval that theseformations do not occur and the feeding of the sheet to the blanking dieis stopped during the blanking and the other forming operations. Thearticles are handled individually and are suitably conveyed from onestage of operation to another, that is, initial drying, final finishingand final drying by suitable conveying means so that the desired degreeof drying and the proper finishing will be effected.

The article if subjected to an impregnating liquid that is substantiallycolorless and which does not change color on the application of heatthereto, in its finished form will have a remarkably natural appearanceand look like Wood with- .forms carried by the rotatable turret, one

position. While illustrated herein in .out a grain andwill bepractically as hard as wood and since it has substantially no grain,will not have a tendency to split or crack. The resulting article alsoby reason of the inclusion of the intentionally formed corrugations willbe substantially free from wrinkles and the like, and it is to beunderstood that in the formation of such article, the surplus stockresulting from the corrugations is distributed uniformly throughout thearticle, as will be hereinafter pointed out.

Having thus described the process portion of this invention, referencenow will be had to apparatus whereby the aforesaid process isaccomplished.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, more or less diagrammatic in form ofthe positive feed portion of apparatus for handling sheet pulp materialfrom the roll and which feeding sheet is shown immersed in a pluralityof reservoirs or tanks for impregnation, said figure also illustratingin a like manner the wringing operation to which the-sheet is subjectedfor removal of surplus impregnating material.

Fig. 1A is similar to Fig. 1 but constitutes extension of the same whenthe apparatus is arranged to accommodate two Jumbo rolls so thatimmediately upon the-exhaustion of one roll the second roll may be fedtherethrov hand without interrupting the operation. of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the blanking and corrugatingportion of he apparatus, the initial formingportion of the apparatus,and the intermediate portion of the apparatus as well as a turretstructure associated with all of the aforesaid and a conveyor structurefor receiving turret discharged articles.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the last mentioned conveyorstructure and the first mentioned drier structure as well as theconveyor associated article discharging means and conveyor supportedarticle recei ng :means for receiving the articles previously dried anddis charged from the first mentioned conveyor.

Fig. i is a central sectional view through the finishing press andassociated conveyor supporting article arrangement last mentioned andthe final drier arrangement.

Fig. 5 illustrates the last mentioned 0 arrangement, an articledischarging an article receiving structure which no finished articlefrom said conveyor.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View of sep 1.. mon plane at 90 apart, it isto be understood they are faced to planes 90 apart.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the sheet with for present blanking purposes,and openings formed by previous blanirings suitably illustrated therein.

Fig. 8 isa vertical sectional view of a and initial forming and drawingdie structure.

Fig. 9 is an elevational View of the corrugating punch blanking dieshown in Fig. 8 and is taken on broken lines 9-s of Fig. 3 and in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 1G isan elevational view of the corrugattil ing female die and istaken on line iii-40 of Fig. 8 and in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. his a perspective view of one of the male corrugating or flutingsegments.

Fig. 12 is a. diagrammatic section of the punch and die after blankformation and prior to flute formation.

Fig. 13 is a similar view with the blank in fluted condition.

Fig. 14 is a similar view illustrating the bowing of the fluted sectionwhen the blank edge is drawn about half the distance between the innerand outer peripheries of the punch shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is a transverse section of the initial corrugating formingstructure with the intentionally fluted or corrugated blank therein.

Fig. 16 is a central sectional view of the rubber expanding punch,cooperating mold or receiver and the article ejector and with the formedarticle in position prior ejection.

Fig. 1'7 is a transverse View of a portion of the mechanical punch,expander and former.

Fig. 18 is an elevational view thereof with part in vertical section.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof taken in anotherplane.

In order that a more complete understanding of the process previouslydescribed may be obtained, certain explanations will be incorporated inthe following description of the apparatus suitable for performing saidprocess.

In Fig. 1A there is illustrated a support structure 30 which is of rollwidth and in the upper portion of each of the two spaced portions, thereis provided an open bearing 3! with an inclined ledge portion 32 leadingthereto. Rotatably supported therein is a shaft 33 which in turnsupports .a Jumbo roll 36 of prime sheet pulp material. The shaft 33 maybe included in the roll in its initial formation at the pulp mill orshaft receiving sleeves may be provided in opposite ends of the roll forsubsequent shaft reception at the container factory.

The roll support 39 is spaced from the impregnating portion of theapparatus and therebetween is provided a plurality of spaced rails uponwhich is rollably mounted a carriage structure 36 which has two portionsextending upwardly and provided with open bearings 3! and inclinedportions 38 to receive shaft 33' of another Jumbo roll structure 34.

The roll support 36 is provided with track cooperating rolls or wheels38 which permits this roller support to be moved laterally below thefeedingsheet portion A so that the roll 3:3 will be available instantlyfor use upon exhaustion of roll 34. Of course, when roll 34 is exhaustedand the machine is being fed from roll 36', the shaft 33 is removed fromthe left hand rolf. support 39 andanother roll and supporting shaftapplied thereto. Therefore, upon exhaustion of roll 3 the new roll 34then will be immediately available for-use.

Suitable brake means may be associated with these roll supportarrangements so as to prevent Y overrunning of the roll if the same havethat tendency.

sociated with each of said tanks other mechanism individual thereto-andconsequently .a description of one tank at} and itsassociated mechanismwill suffice for an understanding of them all.

Herein above the tank is a reservoir or vat 4|. Mounted therein is anagitator, not shown, and which is operable by an individual motor 42supplied by lines 43 including a switch 54. The discharge 45 from thereservoir or vat to the tank is controlled by a regulating valve 35 andthe immediate end 41 Of said discharge 45 is positioned near the bottomof the tank Q0. The operator is merely required to observe the level ofthe liquid in the tank ill and see that it does not fall below thatwhich the sheet in its lowermost position occupies in said tank.

The sheet A is fed from the roll by means of power driven so-calledbooster rollers 68 and 48, the drive therefor being omitted herein forclearness. Thus the sheet A is positively withdrawn from the roll. Thesheet A as at B passes under a roller 59 which may float thereon orwhich may occupy a fixed position in a tank so and which may or may notbe positively driven as desired or required.

Positioned above the tank d8 and suitably supported at opposite endsthereof in supports 5|, is the positively driven roll 52 and cooperatingtherewith is a pressure roll 53 which is slidably supported at each endin an aperture 54 and associated therewith is a compression structure 55including the adjusting member 56. constitutes a wringer structure andthe sheet portion B passes upwardly from beneath the roll between thetwo wringer rolls 52 and 53. These rollers remove the surplusimpregnating liquid and the same drains downwardly either on to thesheet B or into the tank 18. These rollers also force the impregnatingliquid into the sheet and as stated, since the sheet is of fibrouscharacter, it absorbs a predetermined amount of impregnating liquid andthis is continuously supplied to the tank so by means of the controlleddischarge d5, it, ll from the reservoir or vat All.

In a like manner the sheet portion C leaving the wringer roll structurepasses into the next tank 45a and thence in succession into tanks 40b,lilc and Mid where it is subjected to impregnating material of thedesired character, as previously set forth, or subjected to no material,if no further impregnation is desired. The sheet portion D leaves thelast wringer roller structure indicated by 52a and 53d and passesupwardly to a pair of rollers 54 and 55, both of which preferably arepower driven and constitute a booster roll arrangement. Rollers 68 and59, and 54 and 55 have the same linear velocity so that the sheet --ispositively fed through the impregnating portion of the apparatus and ispulled from the Jumbo roll.

- The portion of the sheet which leaves the booster roller structure 5dand 55 drops downwardly as at E and forms a festoon or loop because theportionF extends upwardly and over a roller type conveyor structure,including a stationary frame arrangement 55 in which is mounted inspaced relation a suitable number of free running rollers 5?.

At the remote end of this conveyor arrangement reference being had tothe booster rollers 54 and 55, the sheet port on G passes between theend rollers 58 and 59 which are'positively driven and which are alsomounted in the support or frame structures Eiiat opposite ends. Theserollers discharge the sheet downwardly and substantially vertically asat H and between This a guide arrangement 86 provided with oppositelydirected mouth or lip portions 6!, as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a blank forming arrangement to which thesheet portion H is supplied through the guide 653. In this portion ofthe machine the body portion 52 includes an aperture 63, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter set forth. Mounted in said aperture are thecorrugating or drawing female dies 64, to which reference Will be hadmore fully hereinafter. Axially and herein horizontally alignedtherewith, are the male corrugating or drawing punches 55, there beingone male punch for each female die. As shown clearly in Fig. 2, thereare two die arrangements, one above the other and preferably these areoffset in a certain relationship as will hereinafter be pointed out andpreferably there are a plurality of dies in each horizontal row and sameare spaced 2. predetermined distance apart and in noninterferingrelation to the other row of horizontal dies but in what may be said tobe an interfitting, or staggered relation.

Coaxial as it were, with each male corrugating or drawing punchstructure 65, there is a blanking die 65 and said blanking die isadapted to cooperate with the peripheral edge 67 of the female die 64 toform the die receivable blank.

Slidably supported on the body portion 62 is a carriage or cross headconstruction 58 and the same is suitably apertured as at (59 for maledie reception and mounts on its face confronting the female corrugatingand drawing die 64 the blanking dies 55. This carriage or cross headstructure is provided with links 69 and 10, pivotally connected togetheras at l! and pivotally mounted at '72 upon the structure 652. When theparallel arranged toggle link structure 69-lll is extended from theposition shown in Fig. 2, the blanking die will be forced to the rightso as to sever the blanks from the sheet portion.

After the blanks are severed from the sheet portion I, the blanking die56 travels on in a horizontal line to the right until the inner surfaceportion of the blanking die 65-see Fig. 9- with the thin fins, pressesthe outer portion of the blank into the series of grooves around thesurface of corrugating and drawing female die 64. When this action hasproceeded to the position that corrugations of sufficient depth havebeen formed in the blank, the action of links 69 and i0 is reversed, towithdraw the blanking die 86 with the attached fins to relieve thepressure exerted upon the blank by the fins in initially corrugating theblank.

When this withdrawal is accomplished to just a slight extent orsufficient to allow clearance between the edges of the fins on theblanking die 65 and the grooves in the corrugating and drawing femaledie 54see Fig. Ill-the links 69 and i9 pause or dwell in a fixedposition. This is immediately followed by the forward or right handmovement of the male drawing punch 65see Fig. 8so that the blanks thusformed are received by the female die in alignment therewith and areformed into crude receptacle shape with preformed convolutions orcorrugations therein, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

These male drawing punches 65see Fig. 2- are carried by a cross head '53which is slidably mounted as at i i upon the cross head 58. The crosshead '53 is connected by one or more link arrangements 15 to aneccentric portion 75 of a crank construction 11 rotatable by shaft 18.This shaft 78 is operable in timedrelation with the power application tothe toggle link structures, previously described. Herein the links 69are shown of adjustable character. Also, the link i is shown adjustable.This is to insure the proper operation of the respective die structureswhen they are caused to move from final position to the right, which isthe operative position.

The toggle linkage, previously described, is connected by a link 19 atthe connected points I! and this link 19 is connected by a link 83 toone end of a bellcrank having the arm iii and oscillatable by rockshaft82 suitably operated in predetermined timed relation. It will beapparent that rollers 58-59 do not feed the sheet portion G, H and I, tothe blanking and initial forming dies While said dies are in operativeposition.

Immediately upon the formation of the blanks and the initial formationof the container article with the corrugated wall arrangement thereinand upon retraction of the respective dies causing the aforesaid, therollers 53-439 advance the sheet a predetermined amount so thatadditional blanks may be cut therefrom and these blanks similarlyoperated upon.

The Web, indicated at J in Fig. 2, passes between the positively drivenfeeding rolls 33 and thence through the guide members $3. The dependingend of the web is in timed relation, severed by a pair of cooperatingcutter structures 85 into small pieces that are received by a wastereceptacle 86. This waste stock, if not impregnated with materials thatare unacceptable, may be sold as waste and pulp stock suitable for usein paper and like formations or may be returned to the pulp beaters andbe disintegrated and formed into sheet pulp again, providing thisprocess is operated as vertical integration in the pulp mill.

Adjacent the blanking and initial dieing station is a turret structure,indicated by the numeral Bl, and carried by the rotatable shaft likemember 88. This turret is provided with four faces and each face isprovided with a receiver arrangement. Since these are identical, 2.

description of one will suffice for all.

t will be remembered that two horizontal series of blanking dies areutilized and by referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the sheet Hhas been previously blanked and upon the next blanking operation, twospaced blanks indicated by X are formed therefrom, leaving the webportion I therebetween.

he receiver structure is shown in Fig. 6 and this figure shows tworeceivers each of which is of partable or expansible character, the lefthand receiver being shown expanded or parted, which corresponds to theposition of the receiver parts when it is in alignment with orregistering with the blanking station. Fig. 6 also shows the right .theother so that each cutout portion is opposite ,a Well portion and viceversa and in each portion 39 and 90, the recess and well portions arealternated, as illustrated.

From a comparison of Fig. 7 and a comparison of the left hand portion ofFig. 6, it will be apparent that the three right hand blanks X will bereceived by the three upper well portions 9?. in the portion at and thethree left hand blanks X in Fig. 7 will be received by the three lowerwell portions 92 of portion 89 after the blanks X have been formed andhave been forced through the female corrugating die by means of thecooperating male punch.

These two portions 89 and 9$see Fig. 2are herein shown conventionallyassociated together by means of links 93 and 9d which are connectedtogether as at 95 coaxially with the power or source of turret rotation.Any suitable means, such as a cam or the like, may be arranged to effectmovementof said links towards and away from each other at the desiredposition. In other words, when any particular receiver structure 89-ifiis-positioned adjacent the blanking station, the two links are thenseparated and are retained in separated relation until the turretindexes. Upon such indexing movement, the two links are caused to movetoward each other and register with each other, as shown, therebybringing the two complementary halves of the receiver 8il9il together toform the complete receiver, such as shown in the right hand portion ofFig.

6. This position in this partable receiver is retained throughout theturret movement subsequent thereto until this particular receiver isagain caused to move into registration with the blanking station at theend of one cycle of turret movement for that receiver. Of course, theother three receiver structures are similarly constructed and similarlyoperable.

Reference noW will be had to the central upper portion of Fig. 2. Hereinnumeral 96 indicates a stationary portion of the turret enclosing orenveloping apparatus. It is provided with interior ways 91 upon which isslidably mounted a cross head 98 in-turn provided with ways 99 thatslidably supports a cross head I00. The cross head 98 is pivotallyconnected to a link l0] in turn pivotally connectedat H32 to a link I63and to another link ltd, the latter being pivoted as at [E15 on theportion 96. Links HM and I64 constitute a toggle and link [63, theoperating member therefor. The other end of link N13 is connected to theother arm H06 of the bell crank lever carried by the rock shaft 82having the arm 8 I, previously referred to.

Also pivotally connected at N15 for convenience is a link it! that isconnected at its opposite end to a link the and to a link $59, thelatter being connected to the cross head tea. The cross head 93 supportsa die structure i it and the cross head iflil supports a die -I i 1. Aspreviously set forth, there are six dies liiland six plungers iiicarried by these two-cross heads, and these are arranged in spaced andtransverse row relation and alignment, respectively.

The link H38 is connectedto one arm N2 of a bell crank operable by arock shaft H3 suitably supported as at H4. Toggle links HH and $99 each,are of adjustable character for die adjusting purposes. At this stationdesignated by the letter K, the receiver structure 89-.-90.has beenclosed up or collapsed and as stated, assumes the position andappearance in plan as'illustrated at the right hand portion of Fig. 6.

To the right of the turret structure in the portion H5 of the-machine,there are provided the ways H6 in which is slidably mounted cross headIll carrying an expanding punch or die, indicated by the numeral IIB. Alink H9 is pivotally connected to a link I28 at one end and to the crosshead I ll at the opposite end. It is also connected at the firstmentioned end to a link I2I pivoted at I22 to portion H5. The link 52!)at its opposite end is pivotally connected to the arm I23 of the bellcrank having the other arm H2, previously referred to. Thus, theplungers III and H8 are operable simultaneously. Also, the blanking dieand the die Ill) are operable simultaneously. The punch 65, however,operates after the blanking die has operated and may operate at the sametime and for the same interval of operation as the plunger punches IIIand H3. The expanding punch operates upon the blanks that are carried bythe receiver structure and which are then positioned at the station L.

When the plunger punches have all been retracted from the material andare clear of the receivers 8d9il, the turret is again indexed and thereceiver moves to the station M. At this point or station, the receiverstructure registers with an air supply arrangement through the openingsI24-see Fig. 6. This air structure is supplied with air under pressureby line I25- see Fig. 2controlled by valve I26. This Valve regulates theamount of air pressure applied. The air pressure for operation isapplied intermittently, that is, each time a receiver 890 registers atthe station M, air pressure is supplied to the conduit I25 and when thatis done, the regulated discharge of air discharges the article from thereceiver 8995. The air may continue to discharge during the entire timethat the turret remains stationary or the intermittently operablecontrol (not shown) for the air supply may be so regulated that theinterval of air application is only that sufficient to eject thearticles from the receiver 89-9d. Following article ejection the turretagain indexes and the receiver moves to the blanking position and inthat movement, the parts of the receiver separate, as shown in Figs. 2and 6 so that they receive the corrugated partially formed blanks for asecond cycle of operation.

The details of the construction and operation of the plungers III andIIS and structure II will be set forth more fully hereinafter inreferring to Figs. 16 to 19, inclusive. Also, the details of theconstruction and more specific description of the operation of theinitial punch, plunger and dies, as shown in Figs. 8 to 15, will be setforth more fully hereinafter.

Positioned beneath the station M is an endless conveyor of suitablecharacter and indicated more or less diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3by the numeral IZ'I. This conveyor includes a plurality of spaced,transverse rows of article receivers, including the weight portions I23,stem portions I29 and the article supporting portions I39. The weightsalways maintain the article supporting portion I36 uppermost. Thisisbecause these receivers are pivoted as at I3I to the conveyorstructure. This conveyer structure is of openwork character. It'will beobvious, since the runs are spaced sufficiently apart, that the desiredconstant positioning, previously referred to, can be maintained. Thedetails of such a construction are intentionally omitted herefrom forsimplicity.

It may suffice, however, to state the conveyor may include a pair ofsprocket chains connected at suitable intervals by rods which supportthe portions E30 of the transverse row ali ned receivers, these beingretained in the rod against lateral or longitudinal rod displacement sothat these receivers can always tilt thereon to hold the head or articlesupporting portion upward and, the weight downwardly irrespective of theposition of the run of the endless conveyor any particular receiver mathen occupy.

Adjacent the station M is a pair of spaced arms I32 which are pivotallysupported as at I33 upon a portion of the machine. An arm I33 dependingfrom the arm i325 mounts a roller I35 that bears on a cam carried byshaft lt'l. The chains or side portions of the conveyor are associatedwith the adjacent sprocket wheels, pulleys or the like, I38, carried bythe shaft I39 in turn carried by the end of the arms I32. As the shaftIt! is rotated in timed relation to the previous operation, the arms I32will be raised and lowered. As each row of receivers is presented to thestation M, the high point or" the cam I36 by engaging the roller I38causes the adjacent end of the conveyor structure to elevate so thatwhen the air pressure is supplied to the receiver t99@ at station M, thearticle will be discharged so as to envelope and seat or nest the headportion I39 of that adjacent receiver. Promptly thereafter due togravity, or spring means may be provided, if desired, the cam Hit havingmoved so that its lower point then is adjacent the roller I35, the armsE32 lower to the full line position shown in Fig. 2 so that the articleand the re ceiver I28l2t'i38 then are not located within the receiver89t-i. Thus, the receiver clearance necessary is provided for so thatupon subsequent turret rotation the discharging receiver may readilymove from station M to the blanking station or initial position.

Reference now will be had more especially to Fig. 3. Herein the numeralIC-il indicates a drying oven housing having an inlet opening I4Iconfronting the previously described blank forming mechanism and havinga discharge opposite opening M2. Near the bottom of this housing asuitable source of heat is provided. Herein the same includes aplurality of gas burners I 33, the flames of which are directed upwardlyand which are supplied by a master line IM controlled by a valve I 25.This heat supply is continuous. The products of combustion rise upwardlythrough the housing or chamber and impinge upon the baffle plate M5 inspaced relation to the top of the housing which supports the same, asindicated at Mil. The gases pass laterally around the plate I65 andthence outwardly through the control lines i i-B controlled by valveI48.

Mounted within the housing hit is a suitable frame work I56 whichsupports suitable pulleys, sprockets or the like, liii. The conveyor I21passes inwardly into the housing M9 at the aperture lfil and the chainportion thereof is engaged by a sprocket gear I52 carried by shaft I53which is positively driven. All of the wheels iSI may be sprocket orgear Wheels, if desired.

The conveyor i2? thence passes upwardly and over the wheel I54 andthence across to the discharge side of the drying oven, thence back andforth from the entrance side to the discharge side and finally theconveyor leaves the housing through the discharge aperture I42.Following removal of the article from the receivers or supports of theconveyor, the conveyor reenters the housing l iil through the aperture.line 23'5 controlled by valve 238.

gamer I42 and then leaves the housing Mil through the aperture I l! andpasses to the wheel I38. Where the lower run of the conveyor leaves thehousing, there is provided a Wheel I55. This also may be of sprocketcharacter and positively driven. The wheels I138 may be of sprocketcharacter and positively driven.

Immediately adjacent the aperture I42 in the oven It!) is a supportarrangement I56 which pivotally supports at [i a pair of arms I58 inturn rotatably supporting as by the shaft 159 spaced wheels ltd similarto wheels I38.

, Immediately adjacent the aperture M2 in the oven Iii is a supportarrangement I55 which pivotally supports at 5 a pair of arms I58 in turnrotatably supporting as by the shaft I59 spaced wheels let similar towheels [38. A U- shaped guard lfil is suitably carried by the arms I58and is positioned in spaced relation to the conveyor I27, as shown.

Suitably supported by means, not shown, and omitted for simplicity, butcarried by the arms I58, is another guard Hi2 and this has an outwardlydirected lip portion i6 3 which is adapted to be engaged by the articlescarried by the conveyor I2? so that said articles in the travel of theconveyor i2? adjacent the guard are caused to be retained upon saidreceivers until the receiver and the article reaches the stationdesignated by the letter N in Fig. 3.

A third receiver arrangement which is of the external type in that itmay be said to be of cup form, is at this station adapted to receive thedischarged articles which have been partially formed and partiallydried. Herein numeral I54 designates such a receiver structure and acorresponding number of receivers are arranged in transverse rows andare suitably connected together to form an endless conveyor structureI65.

Rotatably supported in the support 556 is the shaft E65 which mountscams iti immediately adjacent the rollers E58 carried by the dependingarms I59 in turn carried by the arms E58. The shafts it? and Hit arsimilarly operable so that the high point of the cam ass and the lowpoint of the cam it"! are operable or effective at the same time so thatthe entire discharge structure is lowered at the station N at the sametime as the receiving structure is elevated at the station M so that asthe articles are discharged at the station N, the similar articles butnot dried, are received at the station M.

The movement of the conveyor through the oven naturally is ofintermittent character and this is because the conveyor could not moveWithout interference when the mushroom type receivers are nested wtihinthe partable receivers at station M or the mushroom type receivers arenested within the cup shaped receivers 64 at the station N.

Adjacent station N, see Fig. 3, is a transverse header 239, having sixnozzles 23%, supplied by This line is arranged to have intermittentlysupplied thereto, in the manner previously described, relative to lineE25, and simultaneously therewith (and intermittently) air pressure tofacilitate or efiect separation of the article from its mushroomsupport, and its ejection into and seating in the adjacent receivers (atstation N) carried by conveyor I65.

As previously set forth, the successive transverse rows of receivers,cup-shaped in character and indicated by th numeral let, are suitablyconnected together or supported by a conveyor structure its. Thisconveyor structure is associated with a wheel arrangement {'58 carriedby shaft ill mounted in br ckets H 2 and these wheels iii) may bepositively rotated but such rotation is of intermittent character forthe reasons previously assigned. The brackets also support thesuccessive wheels H3 and H4 carried by shafts H5 and lit, respectively.These also may be positively driven, if desired, the conveyor passingunder wheel H3 and over wheel H4 and from thence passing inwardlythrough an aperture ill of a housing H8 in the lower part of which ismounted a bed p e t position of which be adjusted as indicated at lfiii.These receivers and the connecting conveyor structure leave this housingat the aperture it,

This conveyor structure may also be of sprocket chain type and thewheels associated therewith may be of sprocket gear type.

Within the housing F53 above the bed plate H9 there is provided a waystructure 82 which slidably supports a crosshead !83 provided in turnwith ways Hi5 which slidably support crosshead 85. The crosshead N33 isconnected by link E36 to another link it? pivoted at 688 to the interiorof the housing H8. The crosshead I85 is pivoted by a link iiii to a linkiiiil also pivoted at I83.

The several links last mentioned constitute toggle structures and meansfor moving the same are associated With the midpoints it! and 192thereof but herein in view of equivalent disclosure of toggle operatingmechanism shown in Fig. 2, these toggle operating mechanisms herein haveintentionally been omitted for c'iearness.

The conveyor positions the cup-like receiver Hi4 beneath a piunger 593at the station 0 and this plunger is carried by the crosshead i855. Thiscrosshead 535 also carries plunger 94 at the station P. The crossheadi583 carries the die structure is?) cooperating with the plunger die I93. The last mentioned triple die structure constitutes the finishingdies and illustrates two successive stages of finishing operation.

Plunger M33 is of the mechanical expander type whereas plunger Ed t isof the pressure expansible type. The mechanical and pressure expandingplunger firnsh the interior of the article to size, eliminating allwrinkles et cetera, therein, both internally and externally. The die iforms the finished head or outer edge of the article between theseoperations and holds said edge in finished position and formation duringfinal finishing, sizing, et cetera. Since the equivalent structuresappear at liEl--i ii and H8 and same as illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19,inclusive, and will be described hereinafter more fully, no furtherdescription will be given here.

In an article of 3 /2" in diameter, it is finished or stretched, forexample, to {5 greater diameter and in the second drying operation, theheat tempering causes uniform shrinkage, the stock springing backuniformly to size and being finally set at the final size.

For exceptionally smooth finished walls of articles another or secondfinishing unit press of two stages may be operated between the seconddrying oven and the discharging station Q of the second conveyor itt.

It will be obvious that when the conveyor m5 is stationary, that isduring the interval required to eject or discharge the articles from themushroom shaped receivers, the plungers l93and- I94 are effective aswell as the die H35 and that when the conveyor is moved, all the diesare free and clear and positioned above the cup-shaped receivers ltd.Thus, the conveyor IE is intermittently operable in timed relationnecessary to secure this time sequence and clearance relationship.

The conveyor 65 enters a second drying oven or housing i816 throughaperture H31. Adjacent said aperture is! is a Wheel structure I98 whichis suitably supported at 59%. This wheel structure may be of sprocketcharacter and the connections at the ends of the transverse rows of cupreceivers may be of sprocket chain character.

Within the housing B96 which is substantially similar to the housing oroven Hill, there is provided the heating means 28%] supplied with fuelas at 25 and controlled as at 202. The products of combustion arebaflled by plate 293 and flow laterally to the sides of the housing andthence upwardly to the discharge or venting llues 204, each of whichpreferably is valve controlled as at 205. The baffle structure 203 issuitably supported from the roof as at 205.

Within the housing I558 is the frame structure 267 which supportsadjacent each opposite side wall of the housing a plurality of wheels2538. Herein the mechanism differs from that previously described forthe first drying oven, in that there is provided the guide and articleretaining shields 289, these being provided, so that the articles in theinverted runs, as it were, of the conveyor structure N55, to preventaccidental loss of article from the cup type receiver. The last andlowermost run of the conveyor with the articles included therein leavesthe housing I96 through the aperture 2m and immediately engages a Wheelstructure 2H carried by a shaft 2l2 in turn supported by a bracketstructure 2I3 carried by the housing I95. After passing under wheel .2!l, the conveyor passes over a similarly supported wheel 2M and thencepasses approximately half way around a wheel 2h: carried by the free endof the bracket 2H3. The conveyor or receivers after passing thisdischarge station Q pass over a similar wheel structure 2H6 similarlycarried by the frame 2E3 and under another wheel 2%? also similarlysupported and adjacent the discharge aperture 2m. The lower run of theconveyor E65 thence passes through the housing i955, leaving the samethrough the aperture ZIS and passing over the wheel 2E9 carried by shaft2291, in turn carried by bracket 22! also carried by housing let. Theconveyor E55 thence passes under wheel 222 mounted as at 223 upon thefinishing press arrangement and thence passes directly to the wheel 110.

Any or all of the respective wheels ma be positively driven as necessaryor required, although it is to be understood this conveyor travel is, ofnecessity, of intermittent character but progressive or successive incharacter, the stationary intervals being necessary for article reception by the cup-shaped receivers and the die operations.

At the station Q, there is provided an air pressure supply line 224controlled by valve 225 and having an outlet arrangement 2215 of headercharacter and having discharge ports adapted to register with ports inthe bottom of the cup-shaped receivers ifi l so that when the conveyoris stationary and the receivers at the station Q register with thisheader 22B and air is supplied for a predetermined interval underpressure to line 224, said air pressure will discharge the finishedarticle from the cup-shaped receiver Iii l into a suitable container22'! therebeneath, which herein is shown pivoted as at 228 upon a bas229. This receiver may tilt back and forth so that the articles aredischarged in regular sequence across and back in the container so thatwhen the container is full of articles, the covers 239 may be closed andsealed and the container re moved from its cradle 23| pivoted at 228. Anempty container may then be supplied to the cradle and the packaging,therefore, is continuous. Mechanism for tilting cradle 23! in accordancewith the foregoing herein is intentionall omitted for clearness.

Whenever it is desired to further decorat or surface finish thearticles, in lieu of the container arrangement, there may be provided asecond conveyor structure similar to conveyor 12? and provided withmushroom receivers I30. This second conveyor adjacent station Q would bemounted and operated as illustrated at the left hand end of conveyorl2'!see Fig. 2. Each mushroom receiver might include a small pinion onthe tail portionsee stem or tail I29- which in the travel of theconveyor would engage a rack or like, that would rotate said receiver sothat an inner, an outer, or inner and outer directional spray devicewould coat the interior, exterior or both surfaces of the article in thedesired manner. In this manner a lacquer color coat can be applied. Ofcourse, the sprays would not discharge while the conveyor was notmoving. Ejection of coated articles from these modified mushroomreceivers could be effected as illustrated at the right hand and ofconveyor i2lsee Fig. 3-after passing through a drier similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 3, if desired or required. Such ejected articlesthen could be collected as illustrated in the right hand portion of Fig.5.

Whenever intermittent conveyor movement is not desirable or cannot beutilized, the elevating mechanism for the conveyor would not be utilizedbut each article would be pressure ejected at station Q into a chutewhich would guide the article to a registering mushroom receivertherebeneath, the chute being relieved to permit receiver movement intochute registration, travel therethrough and article and receiver passagetherefrom all without interference.

Apparatus suitable for effecting such additional operations isintentionally not illustrated herein for the same may assume, as isobvious from the foregoing, several different types or forms and suchapparatus utilized for individually supporting and transporting articlesfor subsequent coating by spraying and the like, as well as drying same,when desired or required.

However, the foregoing constitutes a disclosure of subsequentornamentation of formed articles, and is a part of a process for formingornamented articles of the character described and from prim sheet pulpmaterial and in the manner described and claimed.

rlaving thus briefly described the major portions of the apparatussuitable for performing the complete process previously described,reference now will be had to the detailed description of the initialcorrugating and blank operating die structures, including th male andfemale portions thereof, the die structure illustrated at station K, theplunger die structure indicated at station L, and the die structuresillustrated at station and P, respectively.

Reference will now be had more particularly to Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive.As previously described, the stock material. is fed in sheet form andbetween the guides tit. As previously set forth, in the body 62 there isformed an aperture 63 in which is mounted the female corrugating ordrawing die 65.. Now, the outer peripheral edge of said die as indicatedat 61 is engaged by the blanking die 6'6 carried by the crosshead 68.This form a circular blank from the sheet which remains stationaryduring the subsequent operation at this station.

Now, with the sheet severed from the blank, there results a circularblank between the forming die 63a and the flared portion 66a of thetubular die 66. As shown in Fig. 8, the two confronting faces 68b ofthese two structures are tapered or inclined toward the tubularity inthe female corrugating die 6 As shown in Fig. 10, the face 6% iscorrugated, as indicated at 640. These corrugations are radiallyarranged and in spaced relation and are equidistant. The corrugationsare formed by the grooves E i-d in said face which grooves merge intothe linear grooves 646 in the tubular portion of the female die 6d, themerging portions being indicated by the numeral 64).

There is suitably secured to the confronting face 631) of the die 68a aplurality of corrugating fins 680. These are preferably formed in pairs,as illustrated in Fig. 11, a pair of said fins being connected togetheras indicated at 68d and being suitably secured to the face 6%, asindicated at 68a. The resulting construction is that there is providedan annular series of radially arranged fluting fins, each of which isadapted to register with a fluting groove 64d. As previously described,the initial movement of the crosshead 68 forms the blank by severing thesame from the sheet stock I and then continued movement of the crosshead63 toward the female co-rrugating die forms in the blank the creasesindicated by AA in Fig. 13. After this formation occurs, as previouslydescribed, the crosshead 68 backs away from the corrugating female diean amount sufficient to relieve the clamping action of said dies on theradially creased circular blank. This return movement, however, is notsufficient to clear the cutting die 66 from cooperative position orassociation with the cutting surface or periphery '5, but so that theblank I remains trapped between the two corrugating dies.

Thereafter, as previously described, the male plunger having thesubstantially conoidal end 6506, is caused to advance and it enters theaperture BS in the corrugating die 68a. The periphery and point, as itwere, of this plunger 65 is longitudinally fluted as at 65?: and thefluting extends into the front face 650 as indicated at 6503. Thepositioning of these fiutings are such and the spacings are such thatthey correspond with and are complementary to the fiutings or grooves Mein the female corrugating die 64%. Upon the face 650 engaging the blankI after the die Etta has been retracted to blank releasing positioncontinued forward movement (movement to the right--see Fig. 8) serves todraw the blank stock into the tubular portion of the tubular femalecorrugating die. In so doing, the previously radially grooved portion ofthe stock follows the groovings and is partially confined by the ribs880 so that said stock includes a bulging, buckling or bowing positionas indicated at BB in Fig. 14. Fig. 14 illustrates what might be said tobe the edge of the blank after having been drawn toward the central holein the female die and to an extent where said edge is midway between theouter peripheral edge of the die and the inner tube forming edge of saiddie. This action results in, first, the formation of preformed fiutesand then the formation of preformed corrugations between the flutedportions by reason of the aforesaid action. These corrugations arecompressed in the movement of the blank into the tubular portion of thefemale die ti l so that when the blank is finally drawn intosemi-article formation, as illustrated in Fig. 15, there is provided atthe upper edge thereof a reversely corrugated formation in the stock,the same being indicated by the letters CC. This means that the stock ormaterial from the bottom or side wall immediately adjacent the bottom toits upper or outer free edge is progressively corrugated and, therefore,is progressively thickened in the initial formation.

Fig. 15 illustrates the stock held in position with the male plungerseated in the female corrugated die just prior to the final forwardmovement of the plunger to eject the partially formed article from theblanking, corrugating and initial forming station and into theregistering well structure 92 carried by the adjacent portion of thepartable receiver Following discharge of this partially formed article,the plunger is fully retracted to its initial position to the left, seeFig. 2, and the corrugating forming die and the blank cutting die 66 aresimilarly retracted. A web stripper fifia, see Fig. 8, may be employedif desired. It frees the web from die 64 when die 66 has cleared theforward end of blanking edge 61.

Then the sheet is advanced the required amount as previously describedso that new blanks may be cut therefrom and new articles may be formedtherefrom. Simultaneously therewith receivers are closed and the turretcarrying the same and the receiving wells is indexed from the blankingstation to the station K. No further description of the specificblanking and initial forming die structures, or their operation, isbelieved necessary. The foregoing arrangement, therefore, provides avery uniform, predetermined wrinkle in the blank and by reason of thebacking off arrangement of the indenting or creasing die the friction ofthe surfaces upon the blank is reduced to a minimum and the subsequentformation of the blank into partial article form is thereby expedited.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 2 and 16. It will be remembered thatin Fig. 2, numeral HI indicated a plunger and this is a rubber expandingpunch. Numeral H8 is the top edge forming collar which is locked inplace by the mechanical pressure exerted by reason of the togglestructure associated with the crosshead $3 and it is locked in place onthe receiver 89-90 in which is mounted the several wells 82, theinterior thereof serving as an exterior form for the resulting article.

In Fig. 16, the same numerals are employed. The article is indicated bythe letters DD. The plunger includes the main supporting member l l iwhich is apertured at l i la. to receive the stem Hib of a rubber orresilient plunger structure Hie, the stern and member ill being suitablylocked together by means of a set screw llld.

For a further description of the rubber plunger I i to, it is to beunderstood that owing to the nil compressing characteristics of rubberthat this plunger in its normal state (without applied pressure) issomewhat smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the resultingarticle and longer in its normal state than the depth of the resultingarticle. This proportion is essential so that plunger I I So can therebyenter or be withdrawn from the resulting article in its normal state,which is smaller in diameter and thereby allows for the properclearance. Upon encountering axial resistance, the rubber expandsoutwardly or transversely and substantially equally.

As the crosshead 98 moves down toward the receiver 52, it initially hasits central projecting portion I Ida enter said well and this forcesdownwardly the stock of the article DD so that a substantially uniform,even and true upper edge is formed on the article. After the ringstructure III is seated on the well, the plunger III advances and servesto force downwardly and transversely the excess stock and thus thethicker stock portions at the upper edge of the article DD are caused toflow into the thinner portions of the article until when the plunger IIIis fully seated within the well structure as shown in Fig. 16. Theresultant article included between the well and the punch III-IIIc issubstantially of uniform thickness throughout. This appreciably removesall wrinkle formations and major deformations. In the third stageformation, as has been previously described, the punch I 58 is ofsubstantially similar or identical character to that indicated by thenumeral I in Fig. 2 and illustrated in detail in Fig. 16, or on resuling articles where an exceptionally smooth finish is desired on theinterior surface of the side walls a solid metal punch or an expandingmechanical punch referred to as I93 may be used.

Further referring to Fig. 16, for convenience only, the lower portion ofsaid figure is shown as the same appears at station M in Fig. 2, itbeing understood that when at this station the crosshead 98 and theforming die III! and plunger II I are not associated with the article DDor the well 92 so that for the following description it is assumed thatthese parts are not present in the bottom half of the disclosure foun inFig. 16.

It will be remembered that a series of six wells is supported, three byone of the receiver elements 39 and three by one of the receiverelements '98, when the two are associated together the six wells are inalignment and in predetermined spaced relation. The bottom of each wellis herein shown provided with a bore 3% and slidably supported thereinis a valve stem 36 mounted on one end of which is a retainer 352 and onthe opposite end of which is mounted a valve SE53 with a tapered face304 that cooperates with the corresponding tapered face 385 of a frustoconical recess act. The interior exposed face of this valve member 393is flush with the bottom of the well structure. Each portion 89 and 93is provided with a plurality of registering bores 36? that extendtherethrough and communicate with similar bores 383 in the turretstructure 8?. These latter bores all communicate with a central passage369 which in turn, at station M, registers with the air pressuresupplying conduit 125 as diagrammatically illustratedin Fig. 2 and-Fig.16.

Each well is provided with a plurality of ducts 3 I6 positioned aboutthe stem receiving bore 300. When the pressure is supplied to the headerstructure 309, air pressure elevates the valve member 303 to open thesame permitting the air to escape from said ducts and between thearticle and the well structure so that the air effects the release. Thisalso is assisted by the action of the plunger type valve 303 by theforce of gravity acting on said valve. Thus, each article is positivelyassured of ejection from its well structure at station M followinginitial formation at the blanking station and subsequent stations K andL.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 17 to 19 inclusive, as well as Fig.4-the latter representing stations 0 and P following the drying of thearticle after initial formation and discharge from the well at stationM.

In said Fig. 4, the punch I93 is of mechanical expanding type and oneform of the same is illustrated in Figs. 17 to 19 inclusive. The plungerl-sd constitutes the finish sizing punch and it may be of mechanicaltype or of the rubber pressure type as desired. If of the latter type,it may be substantially the same as that previously described andillustrated more particularly in Fig. ii. In any event, associated withthe latter is the finishing collar or top edge forming die I95. Aspreviously set forth, the receivers I54 are made a trifle larger indiameter than the wells 92 so as to allow the stretch previouslymentioned in the side walls to take place in th mechanical expansion atthis station 0 and to permit the article to relieve all stresses andstrains therein so that the article will dry out to uniform size withoutany stresses or strains included therein that would subsequently befound in the second operation. It, of course, is to be understood thatthe finish punch I94 may also be of mechanical type, if desired.

In Figs. 17 to 19 inclusive numerals beginning with 3! I are employedwithout regard to whether other numerals in other figures have beenapplied to the mechanical expanding punch designated more especially inFig. 4 by the numeral Herein the punch structure is shown of sixsegmentcharacter, as it were.

The central stem of the mechanical expander or punch is indicated bynumeral JI I and mounts at its lower end the base or article bottomforming portion 3l2 which projects laterally therefrom and its upperface 3I3 is annularly grooved as at 3M.

lidably mounted on stem 3!! is sleeve SIS including a longitudinallydirected elongated slot 356 theret'nrough. The upper end of the sleeve315 is threaded as at 3!! to receive an adjustable stop member (nut) M8.The lower end of the sleeve 355 is frusto-polygonal in character havingsix tapered faces 355), and a shouldered portion 329.

A head structure 32I has its lower face 322 annularly grooved as at 323.Three spacing members 325 having shoulders 325 and 325 serve to spacethe head lower face 322 a predetermined distance from the base upperface 3I3 so that the six cooperating expanding segments may freely moveradially therebetween. The ends 32! are threaded at 328 into the base3I2 and the opposite threaded exposed ends 330 extend through bores 329in the head mount and clamping nuts 33L The head 32I is relieved as at332 to form a chamber having shoulder 333 engageable by shoulder 32!) ofthe frusto-polygonal wedge 32!. The head 32! includes an upwardlydirected tubular extension 334 spaced from stem 3H and providing anannular channel for sleeve ME. A bolt 335 connects the stem and headtogether and rides in slot SIB of sleeve M5 and prevents relativerotation between the wedge and the expanding segments or the head andbase.

The six expanding segments are of two kinds and alternated. One segmentis shown clearly in Fig. 18 in side elevation. The other segment isshown clearly in Figs. 1'? and 19 and in central section in the latterfigure.

Each of the first mentioned. segments 335 includes oppositely directedcars 33'! and 338 which register with channels El i and 323 respectivelyand associated with said ears are springs and 340 which normallyconstrain segment 3% inwardly into wedge engagement. Herein the innerface of the segment 336 has an inclined face 345 complementary to thewedge inclination.

Each of the other three segments 3&2 is slotted as at 353 to embrace thespacin studs 32d. This slot is of suiiicient radial width, asillustrated, to permit the segment to move radially between the base andhead. Springs 844 seated in recesses 3 35 in the stud 32 i bear on face3 330: of the slot M3 and normally constrain the segment 3&2 into wedgeengagement. An ear 3% on said segment also seats in base slot 3M. Thewedge engaging face S it of this segment is inclined and complementaryto the inclination of the wedge.

The adjacent faces of adjacent segments are complementary as shown inFig. 17 so that as the segments move outwardly and radially thesummation resulting outer periphery is substantially complete and mergesat the top and bottom with the adjacent outer surfaces of the head andba e respectively as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 18.

It will be obvious that bodily movement of stem 3!! merely positions themechanical expanding punch as desired. However, application of pressureto collar or nut SIB forces wedge 355 downwardly thereby simultaneouslyand to a corresponding degree forcing all segments radially outward.Final outward movement may be limited by the lower end of slot M6, thelower limit of travel of the member engaging the nut 348 or by ears 33'!and/or ears 345 engaging annular slot 3 M, as desired or required.

It i also to be noted that the rubber plunger shown and. described maybe pneumatic character instead of substantially solid character. When ofpneumatic type, it would be inflated by a regulated pressure before orduring seating movement or when seated as desired or required. Suchinflation naturally would be properly timed.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consideredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein well as others which willreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all areconsidered to be within the broad scope of the invention, referencebeing had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a container forming machine, means at one station adapted tosimultaneously supply blanks to a pair of spaced, movable, elongatedmembers, means for moving said members laterally into abutting relationand away from each other, at least one blank receiver carried by eachelongated member, each receiver having a portion projecting laterallyfrom one side face of its elongated member and toward the confrontingside face of the other elongated member, each blank receiver havin ablank receiving cavity therein, the blank receivers being spaced apartlengthwise of the'elongated members when the same are in substantiallyabutting relation, each of the confronting faces of the elongatedmembers having a recess therein to laterally nest the laterallyprojecting portion of the receiver carried by the other elongated memberwhen the members abut each other, the blank receivers, when so nested,being in alignment with each other, a plurality of aligned blank workingmeans at a second station spaced from said one station, said blankworking means having a spacing therebetween and alignment correspondingto the spacing between and alignment of said receivers when saidreceivers are at said second station and said members are in abuttingrelation, means for moving the receivers from the one station to thesecond station, and means for moving the blank working means into blankengagement for working thereon when the blank receivers are at saidsecond station.

2. In a container forming machine, the combination of an indexableturret, means for intermittently rotating said turret, a plurality ofpairs of spaced, movable, elongated members carried by said turret,means at one station adapted to simultaneously supply blanks to a pairof said members, means for moving each pair of members laterally intoabutting relation and away from each other, at least one blank receivercarried by each elongated member, each receiver having a portionprojecting laterally from the side face of its elongated member andtoward the confronting side face of the other elongated member, eachblank receiver having a blank receiving cavity therein, the blankreceivers of each pair of elongated members being spaced apartlengthwise of the elongated members, each member having a confrontingface recess adapted when the members abut each other to nest thelaterally projecting portion of the blank receiver carried by the otherof said elongated members,

the blank receivers, when so nested, being in alignment with each other,a plurality of aligned blank working means at a second station spacedfrom said one station, said blank working means having a. spacingtherebetween and alignment corresponding to the spacing between andalignment of said receivers when said receiver are at said secondstation and said members ar in ing arcuate spacing therebetween forsuccessive registration of each pair of members at said one and secondstations, the receivers at said one station registering with the blanksupplying means and then with the blank working means at said secondstation, the means for moving each pair of elongated members towards andaway from each other being operable prior to and following turretpresentation of each pair of elongated members to the blank supplyingmeans.

3. In a forming machine including a centrally apertured creasing memberhaving ribbing at one end directed outwardly from the aperture, aplunger movable longitudinally in the aperture thereof, a tubular,interiorly corrugated, die

member, means for relatively moving said creasing member and said diemember, a ribbed face on the die member at the end closest to thecreasing member, the face ribbing being complementary to the creasingmember ribbing for creasing a blank therebetween, said plunger havingcorrugations thereon complementary to the tubular die membercorrugations, means for moving the plunger, following blank creasing,toward, into, and through the tubular die mem ber with the previouslycreased blank between the die member and the plunger, to force thecreased blank entirely through the die member, and a substantiallyclosed end receiver mold immediately adjacent the blank discharging endof the tubular die m mber for simultaneous reception of the blank andthe plunger, the plunger seating said receiver mold and against theclosed end thereof for uniform distribution of the blank stock.

4. A fibre stock forming machine, as defined by claim 3, wherein theribbing of the centrally apertured member comprises a plurality offinlike blades, each with an anchoring base portion, and meansdetachably securing the base portions to said centrally apertured memberwith the blades projecting therefrom and toward the tubular die member.

5. A fibre stock forming machine, a defined by claim 3, wherein theribbing of the centrally apert-ured member comprises a plurality offinlike blades, each with an anchoring base portion, and meansdetachably securing the base portions to said centrally apertured memberwith the blades projecting therefrom and toward the tubular die member,the blades being arranged in pairs and the base portions of each pairbeing integral, said base securing means being positioned between theintegral base portion connected blades.

6. In a container forming machine, the combination with anintermittently movable endless conveyor, movable a predetermineddistance at each movement thereof, a plurality of successively arrangedcup-shaped receiver molds carried by said endless conveyor with aspacing therebetween substantially equal to the aforesaid predetermineddistance, a stationary frame, a substantially stationary platensupported thereby and across which said conveyor passes for platenbacking of the receiver molds, a pair of spaced plungers movablysupported by the frame and simultaneously movable into a pair of platenbacked adjacent receiver molds for expansion of the articles therein,said spaced plungers successively cooperatin' with each receiver mold,apertured r ng means movably supported by the frame and adapted forengagement with a receiver mold for article retention therein andsubsequent article top edge formation, one of the plungers beinglongitudinally movable in the ring means aperture and relative to therin means for pressure surfacing and top edging of the retained article,means for selectively moving the ring means and the plungers toward andaway from the then platen backed, plunger registering, receiver moldswhereby the ring means is initially engaged with one of said platenbacked receiver molds prior to the plunger nesting therein, said ringmeans moving means retaining the ring means in engagement with the rinengaged receiver mold until the ring means associate plunger isdisengaged therefrom.

7. In a container forming apparatus having a plurality of articletransfer stations, the combiticle therein, to one station, a

nation of an endless conveyor intermittently movable between twostations, a plurality of cupz-shaped article receivers, means forsuccessively presenting each receiver, with a cup-shaped arsecondplurality of cup-shaped article receivers, means for successivelypresenting each of the second cupshaped article receivers to a ubsequentstation, va plurality of article supports carried by said conveyor,successive article supports being sucoessively registrable with andnestable in successive first cup-shaped receivers and then withsuccessive second cup-shaped receivers, the conveyor being stationaryduring the nesting of the :supports in the registering receivers,successive .article supports having a spacing therebetween upon saidconveyor whereby two article supports simultaneously register with oneeach of the different cup-shaped receivers, and means at each of the twostations for nesting the conveyor supported article support at thatstation within the adjacent cup-shaped receiver then registeringtherewith for article transference and then de- ;n.esting of the samefor conveyor and support travel clearance, operation of the lastmentioned :means only occurring when the conveyor is sta- 'tionary.

8. A container forming apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein theconveyor supported article .suppo-rts at the transfer stations areoppositely directed relative to each other.

9. A container forming apparatus as defined by claim 7 wherein there isprovided at each station intermittently operable fluid pressure meansfor facilitating transference of the article between the receiver andsupport then registering at that station and only operable when theconveyor is stationary and after the nesting means at the sta- 'tion haseffected the nesting relationship between said registering receiver andsupport at that :station, said fluid pressure means being inoperativewhen denesting has been effected for conveyor travel.

10. In a container forming apparatus having a plurality of articletransfer stations, the combination of a plurality of parallel series ofcup-shaped receivers, each series including a plurality of saidreceivers having like spacing therebetween, means for simultaneouslypresenting to one station, one receiver of each series, a secondplurality of parallel series of cup-shaped receivers, each seriesthereof including a plurality of said second mentioned receivers havinglike spacing therebetween, means for simultaneously presenting toanother station one receiver of each second mentioned series, an endlessconveyor inter- Inittently movable between the two aforesaid stations, athird plurality of parallel series of article supports on said conveyor,each series thereof including a plurality of said article supportshaving like spacing therebetween, the number of all parallel seriesbeing identical, the successive series being in alignment, the supportspacing upon said conveyor simultaneously registering a support with oneof the first mentioned cup-shaped receivers at the one station andanother support in the same series with a second mentioned receiver ofsaid another station, and means at each of the stations for moving theconveyor portions adjacent thereto toward and away from th adjacentcup-shaped receivers then at the stations to eirect nesting anddenesting between the then registering cup-shaped receivers and articlesupports.

11. A container forming apparatus as defined by claim 10 wherein thefirst mentioned present

